News Details

"We are shocked and deeply saddened"

Statement on the occasion of the official ceremony to remember Marwa El-Sherbini
Dresden, 11 July 2009

We are shocked and deeply saddened by the murder of Marwa El-Sherbini. Her husband Elwy Okaz is a scientist in our institute and was seriously injured while trying to protect her.

We cannot begin to imagine what this is like for him and his family, or contemplate just how much they have lost.

Marwa stood up for her rights. She defended herself against racist insults. It is most tragic that she was killed in an attack that was motivated by racism. Marwa was also a scientist. She contributed to the Dresden community by working as a pharmacist and by supporting her husband’s work in our institute. We are devastated by the death of this courageous citizen, caring mother, and loving wife. The institute is doing and will do everything possible to support Elwy and his family.

Our Max Planck Institute is a family of scientists from 45 nations. Science has always been an international endeavour. Scientists care about ideas and not about nationality, religion, or skin colour. Science in Dresden, as anywhere else, can only flourish if we can attract the very best people from all over the world. Dresden has been able to build up such a large scientific community precisely because talented foreigners chose to work in Dresden and because the inhabitants of this city are welcoming and tolerant people.

This attack strikes at the heart of the international spirit that we wish to foster in Dresden. Though we are very concerned about the implications that this atrocity has for foreigners in Dresden, we remain committed to building Dresden as a major center for biomedical research.

The family of Marwa is in our thoughts.